Peter Shankman shares how to view ADHD as a gift instead of a curse. Without a doubt, Peter Shankman is the fastest talker that I know. So it's a challenge to keep up with him since he has so much passion and desire to help others however he can. Peter is an accomplished entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and author--but more importantly, he is a man on a mission to empower everyone to recognize their fullest potential and live it out each day. He especially wants people with ADHD, ADD, OCD, and autism to identify and build on their strengths. While it's important to know and ove ..read more

What can kids learn from summer camp? While camp counselors aren't the same as school counselors, they do strive to teach campers important life lessons that can serve them well in school and beyond. First, camp is a safe place to try new things. Kids can try out something for the first time without any worry about messing up or getting a bad grade. They feel more comfortable and relaxed at camp when they learn something for the first time--no matter how many mistakes happened along the way. Whether it's horseback riding, fishing, or dancing, kids find great pleasure in the satisfaction of d ..read more

How to start the school year stress-free! Ok, maybe not completely stress-free, but with as much confidence, peace, and joy possible. Many students struggle with the transition of returning to school. It is sometimes due to a traumatic summer (Move, grandparent's death, divorce, parent's loss of a job, family member incarcerated, etc.) or maybe last year at school was rough and there's fear of this year being even worse. Nevertheless, here are my top 5 tips to start the school year with as much fun and excitement as possible. 1) Many kids get stressed out when there's a substitute ..read more

Foot Fiddlers keep hands free for students to work As an elementary school counselor, I often gave students stress balls, Koosh balls, and other hand fiddlers for them to relieve their nervous energy in class. However, teachers would often take them away from students since they became a distraction instead of being helpful. While 19 million students have ADHD, anxiety disorder, or a learning disability, most students appreciate having a way to move throughout the day instead of having to sit still for 5-6 hours at their desk every day. There are numerous health, academic, and soci ..read more

  While 30-50% of adults are sleep deprived every day, many students are not getting a good night's sleep every night either. One cause is bad dreams and even night terrors. Here's a fun and simple way to help Kindergarten through second grade students create a "Dream Channel Changer" to help them be proactive and decide which dreams they would like to experience that night. Feel free to download the lesson for your Active Inspire Promethean board lesson or PowerPoint lesson (Right-click and save these files to your computer.) Here's a blank Dream Channel Changer and here's a sample t ..read more

  Common excuses for not applying for a grant: "I don't have the time." "I'll never get funded." "It's too complicated. I'll never figure it out." "I don't want to pay the application fees."   Good news! It should take you about 20-45 minutes. 70% of grants get funded.  It's only 1 page. Here's a sample. It's free. 5 tips for your DonorsChoose grant:  1. Look at other teachers who are requesting the same supplies on DonorsChoose.org that you are seeking. Don't plagiarize, but you can take notes and ideas from their campaigns. You don't have to re-invent the wheel ..read more

Globetrotters aren't just about smiles and games. They make a difference. The Harlem Globetrotters do much more than spinning basketballs and shooting 4-point shots. They have been making a difference since 1926 on and off the court. The Globetrotters introduced Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton as the first African American basketball player to sign a contract with the NBA in 1950. Lynette Woodard was the Globetrotter's first female player in 1985 who won a gold medal in the Olympics and joined the new Cleveland Rockers in 1997 with the WNBA. As part of giving back to the community on ..read more

Read and Ride programs help students ride exercise bikes while they read fun magazines and books. Visit: ReadAndRide.org Schools are able to collect free equipment and magazines from within their community for students to use in their classroom and/or in a dedicated room for a Read and Ride program. Reading is fun! Students release extra energy! Exercise is noncompetitive! Jenna Wolfe and Matt Lauer feature the Read and Ride program on the NBC Today Show.  View the NBC Today Show segment here. Queen Latifah promoted the Read and Ride program on her national talk show.&n ..read more

  3 Ways To Get Free Bouncy Bands! Bouncy Bands help students: Release extra energy by bouncing their feet or stretching their legs while they work quietly. Stay on task longer by relieving their anxiety and stress so they stay calm while they work. Move without distracting others or making any noises. 1. Make a video. Teachers can receive one free Bouncy Band for a Chair or a Desk in exchange for creating a 1-minute video showing what you like about it or how it helps. You don't have to show the student's face--just their feet using the band is sufficient to demonstrate how ..read more

2014 ASCA conference  in Orlando  was awesome! View the video from First Lady, Michelle Obama, as she affirms the role of school counselors and launches her new "Reach Higher" initiative to encourage students to graduate high school and attend a 2 or 4 year college. President Obama's 2020 goal is for the U.S. to again be the world's leader in college admissions. (If you prefer, you can read the transcript here ..read more